State-of-the-art £650m superlab opens in London

A government-backed biomedical laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, has opened in central London.

Experts at the Crick will work to find new ways of fighting some of the world’s deadliest diseases.

The one-million square foot building – which cost £650m – is behind St Pancras station and the British Library and will eventually be home to 1,250 scientists.

The government poured £350m into the institute and has partnered with pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline though the Crick is funded mainly by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.

“Since the discovery of penicillin, UK scientists have led the way in pioneering scientific and medical breakthroughs that have changed and improved the lives of patients and their families around the world,” said business and energy secretary Greg Clark.

“Our investment in The Francis Crick Institute will ensure the UK continues to harness the strength of our world-leading research base to improve lives, creates businesses and jobs and drive economic growth across the UK.”